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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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MAN.
OF THE
SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 2 nd
INDIANAPOLIS.
Ind.
-7
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PUBLISHED BY THE SESSION.
INDIANAPOLIS: I. W. HOLMAN & CO., PRINTERS, 53 WEST WASHINGTON STREET.
1872.
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D 28954 . 45
1823866
V INDIANAPOLIS. SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. Manual of tho Second Presbyterian church, Indianapolis. Published by the session. In - dianapolis, I. W. Holman & co., 1872. cover-title, 27p.
120650
PHELY PAHO
NL 39-625 **
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OFFICERS.
:
PASTOR. HANFORD A. EDSON.
RULING ELDERS.
WILLIAM N. JACKSON, Clerk.
WILLIAM S. HUBBARD.
ENOCH C. MAYNEW.
SAMUEL F. SMITHI.
JOHN S. SPANN. EDWIN J. PECK.
THOMAS A. MORRIS.
FREDERICK W. CHISLETT.
MOSES R. BARNARD. -
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DEACONS.
EDWARD S. FIELD.
GEORGE W. CRANE.
RICHARD M. SMOCK.
SANFORD MORRIS.
CLEMENTS A. GREENLEAF.
WILLIS H. PETTIT.
DAVID W. COFFIN.
TRUSTEES.
JOHN S. SPANN.
ASA G. PETTIBONE.
WILLIAM P. FISHBACK.
JAMES M. BRADSHAW. WILLIAM MANSUR.
WILLIAM M. WHEATLEY.
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HISTORICAL SKETCH.
The Second Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis, Was organized with fifteen members. November 19, 1838, by the Rev. James IL. Johnston, in the Marion County Seminary, a stall brick building, standing until Iron, at the south-west corner of University Square. The Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, the first pastor, entered upon his work, July 31, 1839. Worship was continued in the Seminary for a year; afterward, the congrega- tion removed to their own edifice, on the north-west corner of Cirele and Market streets, occupying, at first, the lecture room in the basement. This house was dedi- cated October 4, 1810. On the nineteenth of September, 1847, the pastorate of Mr. Beccher closed, and he removed to Brooklyn, New York. He was succeeded by the Rev. Clement E. Babb, at the time a student in Lane Semi- nary, now associate editor of the Herald und Presbyter, Cincinnati. He commence work May 7, 1848, and con- tinued in the pastorate until January 1, 1858. It was under his supervision that a colony, now the Fourth Presbyterian Church, was established wide twenty-four members. This occurred November 30, 1851. The third pastor, the Rev. Thornton A. Mills, began his work January 1, 1854, and remained with the church three years, the relation between pastor and people being dis-
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solved by Presbytery, February 9, 1857. Dr. Mills, hav- ing been elected Secretary of the General Assembly's Committee on Education, went at once to New York. He is the only one of the pastors of the church not now living. He died suddenly, June 19, 1867. The Rev. George P. Tindall was his successor, called to the pas- torate August 6, 1857, and continuing in the field until September 27, 1865. During his ministry, in 1858 and 1859, large minbers were added to the church. The present pastor Ias occupied the place since January 17, 1864. Oo the fifteenth of May of that your a building was dedicated, corner of Michigan and Blackford streets, for a mission Sabbath-school which had been casal li-led by members of the Second Church, and which has now grown into the Fifth Presbyterian Church. November 20, 1867, another colony, the Olivet Presbyterian Church; was formed with twenty-one meinbers, a house of worship having been dedicated for them a month previous. On the eighth of May, 1870, Memorial Chapel, south-west corner of Christian avenne and Bellefontaine street, Was dedicated, where a Sabbath-school and other religions services have since been maintained by members of the church. For the present house of worship, corner of Pennsylvania and Vermont streets, ground was broken in the spring of 1861. The corner-stone was laid May 14, 1866; the chapel was first occupied December 2", 1867 ; and the con p'eted edifice was dedicated January 9, 1870.
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CONFESSION OF FAITH AND COV- ENANT:
A FORM USED IN THE ADMISSION OF MEMBERS.
You have presented yourselves thus publicly before God, to enter into covenant with Him and to join your- selves with Ilis visible people. We trust you have well considered the nature of these engagements. The trans- action is solemm, and will be attended with eternal con- sequences. God is looking on. Your vous will be recorded in heaven to be exhibited on your trial at the last day.
You will attend to the Confession of Faith.
You believe that there is one God, the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, infinite, eternal and unchangable in wisdom, power and love.
You believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God, and the only infallible rule of faith and practice.
You believe that man is sinful by nature and practice, and that he needs to be born again of the Spirit of God.
You believe that Jesus Christ by His suffering's and obedience atoned for the sins of the work, and that we are justified by faith in Him.
You believe that there will be a resurrection of the body; that the Lord Jesus Christ will descend from heaven to judge the world; and that He will receive the saints to llis heavenly kingdom, and doom the wicked to everlasting fire.
All this you heartily believe.
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(Baptism will here be administered to those who have never duly received the ordinance.)
And now, in the presence of find and this assembly, you do solemnly delicate yourselves to God the Father, as your rightful Sovereign and Chief Good ; to God the . Son, as your Prophet, Priest and King; and to God the Spirit, as your Sanctifier, Comforter and Guide. To this one Glad you do, in humble dependence, heartily give up yourselves in an everlasting covenant, to walk in all His commandments and ordinances blameless.
You do now cordially join yourselves to this, as a Church of Jesus Christ, engaging to submit to it- divi- pline, and a lounly cos wanting to suive, as much as in Ju lies, for its prace, edification and purity; to walk with its members in Christian love, faithfulness, cireum- spection, meckness and sobriety; and abandoning the sinful pleasures and amusements of the workl, to prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Thus you covenant and engage.
(The members of the Church will here rise.)
And we do now affectionately receive you into our fellowship. We agree to watch over you with the meekness and fidelity becoming saints, and as we wel- come you to the privileges and hopes of our high calling in Christ JJesus, so do we pledge you our sympathies and prayers, while you share with us the toils, trials and temptations of the Christian life.
Do not forget, beloved in the Lord, that you have entered into solemn relations from which you can never escape. Wherever you go, and whatever you are. these vows will be upon you. They will follow you to the bar of God, and in whichever world yon may be fixed they will abide upon you to eternity. Hereafter, the
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eyes of the world will be upon you, and as you demean yourselves, so religion will be honored or disgraced. If you walk worthy of your profession you will be a credit and a comfort to us; but if it be otherwise, you will be to us a grief of heart and a vexation. And if there is a woe pronounced on him who lays a stumbling block before one of Christ's little ones, woe, woe to the person who does this to a whole church. "But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak." May the Lord guide you till death, and at last receive you and us to that blesed world where our love and joy shall le forever perfect. Amen.
Let us pray.
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SYSTEMATIC BENEFICENCE.
We desire to remember that we are " stewards," not proprietors, and that it is our duty, as it certainly is a privilege and an honor, in all the use of God's property entrusted to our care, to have chiefly in view the glory of our Redeemer and the welfare of our fellow-men. We believe that every Christian ought to enjoy the blessed- ness of cheerful, considerate, systematic, prayerful gis- ing, "as find leth prospered him." A. mender of the Presbyterian Church, we wish loyally to support the benevolent week which the General Assembly -o largely guided by Christian wisdom and experience. ha- de- visad. That benevolent work includes :
I. FOREIGN MISSIONS. - "Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." Matt. Axviii. 19. The Kingdom of our Lord is to become universal through the labors of His people. Of thew labors, He clanus from us our share
Il. HoMR MISSIONS .- " Beginning at Jerusalem." Luke xxXIV : 47. Every consideration of patriotism and Christianity requires ns to aid in the Evangelization of our own land.
111. FRREDMEN'S CAUSE .- " Blessed is he that con- siderath the poor." Psalms sli: 1. The peculiar condition and special wants of the freedmien call for special attention and care.
IV. EDUCATION .-- " Pray ye, therefore, the Lord of the harvest, that He would send forth laborers into Ilis harvest." Lukes : 2. It is intended that no properly
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qualified young man desiring to educate himself for the ministry, shall be obliged to relinquish that purpose for lack of means.
V. PUBLICATION .- " Let there be light. i: 3. Papers, tracts and books. printed by our Putait tion Board, in behalf of evangelical religion and in illustration of Presbyterian history, polity and destrine, thun proper application, are gratuitously distributed in needy fields, at home and abroad.
VI. Curren Exterior. - "He loveth our nation, and He bath built us a synagogue." Luke vii: 5. Without. a house, the congregation haus wishes. It is economical and wise to secure the rapid growth and early independ- ence of mission churches by aiding them to build.
VIL. SUSTENTATION .- " For the laborer is worthy of his live." Luke x: 7. The salaties of settled past- ors, serving generous but sinali and feeble churches, are supplemented to prevent suffering and secure a degree of comfort.
VITI, MINISTERIAL RELIEF. - " But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an inlidel." 1 Timothy v : 8. Men lett without means of support, after a life's service of the church in the min- istry, and needy widows and orphans of deceased clergy- men of our church, are aided upon the recommendation of Presbytery.
In order that we may letter advance this Benevolent Work in its various departments, according to the prin- ciples stated above, the Session have adopted. for future use, the following
PLAN.
1. A collection hall be taken on the third Sabbath at each month, of which nine-tenths shall be distributed to
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the eight branche of our Benevolent Work described above, pro rata, (in proportion to the several amount- appropriated by the General Assembly, for the current year, ) and the remaining tenth shall be reserved for appropriation by the Session, to miscellaneous charities deserving our aid. The contributions of individuals pre- ferring a different distribution of their gifts, shall be appropriated according to their wishes, whenever made known. Any balance subject to the Session's order, remaining in the treasury, on the first day of May, in each year, shall then be distributed pro rate as before.
2. On the second Sabbath of January in each your, cand and envelopes shall be distributed in the pews es- pladning this plan, and inviting all mea.bers of the congregation to designate the several amounts they de- sire to contribute monthly during the year. These cards and envelopes, with the first month's contribution, shall be collected on the following Sabbath. On the Sabbath previous to each succeeding monthly collection envelopes shall also be distributed to be returned as be- tore.
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STANDING RULES,
FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AND CONGREGATION, INDIANAPOLIS. ADOPTED JANUARY 5, 1871.
TRUSTEES. ELECTION.
At the first Annual Election succeeding the adoption Number, of these rules, there shall be elected six Trustees, who terms of classes, shall be divided into three equal classes. Those of the service. first class to serve for one year; those of the second class to serve for two years; and those of the third class to serve for three years, and until their successors are duly elected and qualified.
At every annual meeting thereafter, there shall be elected two Trustees to serve for the term of three years, and until their successors are duly elected and qualified.
DUTIES.
The Trustees shall have the entire control and charge Control of of all the church property, building and grounds. property.
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They shall have the control and management of rent- ing pews or sittings, shall determine the price of rental, the time of payment, and attend to the collection of the same.
They shall superintend and direct all repairs and im- Repairs provements to the church buildings, furniture or fixtures ; provem'ts. and im- shall contract for and provide all supplies needful for the comfort and proper accommodation of the various meetings of the church and congregation.
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Employes. They shall appoint, contract with and pay allem- ployes needed for the proper conduct of worship or the Insurance, comfort of the congregation; and, according to their judgment, shall keep the eburch buildings and fixture- at all times well insured.
Estimates.
They shall, within seven days after the Annual Meet- ing of the congregation, ascertain what sum of money will be necessary to provide for Pastor's salary, other salaries, insurance, fuel, lights, and all other incidental expenses, together with the expense for collection, which swin, unless otherwise provided for, shall be raised from rents of church pews.
Renting of They shall, on or before the said time named in the pre- peWs. coding paragraph, tix the minimum price at which press- may be rented for the year, so as to meet the demands of the treasury, and shall appoint and cause to be pub- lished, some convenient day within three weeks nest succeeding the Annual Meeting, and on this appointed day, shall offer the pews to the highest bidder. No bid shall be received at such sale. unless the sun offered is equal to the minimum rate fixed by the Board of Trustees. Should any pews remain unrented at the close of the public offering, the Trustees may rent the same at the fixed price, from time to time; but shall have power to modify the price of pews so remaining unrented. when, in their judgment, the circumstances of the case, and the interests of the congregation, require it.
Payment of pew rents.
They shall require the rents for pews to be paid quar- terly, on or before the first days of April, July, October and January, and make such regulations as will insure, as nearly as may be, promptness in the payment of rents.
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They shall audit all claims against the church, and Auditing the Treasurer shall pay the same on the presentation of claims. a warrant signed by the Chairman, and attested by the Clerk.
They shall report at each annual business meeting, Financial the financial condition of the church, presenting a state- report. ment in detail, of all the receipts and expenditures for whatever purpose and on whatever account, specifying the donations and disbursements for charitable and be- nevolent purposes, and whatever else may impart to the meeting a full knowledge of the financial condition of the church, which report, when made, shall be filed and preserved in the archives of the church.
They shall, at their first meeting succeeding their Officers of election, appoint a Chairman, Clerk, Treasurer and Col- Trustees.
Board of lector, who shall hold their respective offices for one year, unless sooner excused from service by the Board.
CHAIRMAN.
The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the paties. Board, sign all warrants, as chairman, and make out and sign the annual report to the church and congregation.
The Clerk shall attend all meetings of the Board, all Duties. public business meetings of the church and congregation, and keep a record of the proceedings of such meetings in a book to be kept for that purpose, and shall sign such record as Clerk; and it shall also be his duty to attend to recording such of the proceedings as are required by law. to be recorded; and it shall further be his duty to prepare a notice to be read from the pulpit, at least two eks before the annual election, making known the ..
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number and teri of service of all officers to be chosen at such election.
TREASURER.
Duties,
The Treasurer shall safely keep all money, which he may receive belonging to the church, and shail pay out the same only on the warrant of the Trustees, which shall be a sufficient voucher for such payment. He shall keep a record of his proceedings, and shall report the same to the Board of Trustees at least one week pre- reding the Annual Meeting, and at such other times as the Trustees may require ; and he shall deliver to his successor, or to the Trustees, when required, all books, papers and money. in his hand- belonging to the church, and shall faithfully account to the Trustees for all receipts and disbursements.
DEACONS. ELECTION.
At the first election of Deacons, succeeding the adop- tion of these rules, there shall be elected eight Deacons, who shall be divided into two equal classes, those of the first class to serve for one year, and those of the second class to serve for two years, and until their successors are duly elected and qualified.
At every Annual Meeting thereafter, there shall be elected four Deacons, to serve for the term of two years, and until their successors are duly elected and qualified.
DUTIES.
Benovo- The Deacons shall take charge of all money's con- lent funds. tributed for benevolent purposes, and for the home charities of the church.
Number, classes. term of service.
Second Presbyterian Church. 13
They shall acquaint themselves with, and relieve, as The poor. far as they are enabled to do, the poor of the church.
They shall make the preparations necessary for the Commun- communion and the baptismal services. baptist. ion and:
They shall see that strangers are made welcome; that Strangers. Seating the
the congregation is comfortably seated; and, to this congrega- end, they shall be present in the sanctuary a reasonable tion.
time before the services commence.
They shall have the direction and control of the Sexton.
services of the Sexton, the better to enable them to dis-
charge the duties herein mentioned.
They shall keep a record of their financial proceed - Records. ings, and report the same annually to the Board of Trus- report. tres, at least one week before the Annual Meeting.
RULING ELDERS. ELECTION.
At the first election of Elders, succeeding the adoption Number, of these rules, there shall be elected nine Elders, who Classes, shall be divided into three equal classes, those of the service. first class to serve for one year; those of the second class to serve for two years; and those of the third class to serve for three years, and until their successors are duly elected and qualified.
And at every annual meeting thereafter, there shall be elected three Ellers to serve for the term of three years, and until their successors are duly elected and qualified.
DUTHEM.
The Elders shall perform such duties as the Form of Meetings, Government and these rules may require. They shall greet in Church Session at such time and place as may
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be designated by the Pastor, who shall always convene the Session when required to do so, by any two of the Elders.
CHURCH SESSION. DUTIES.
Visiting.
Spiritual care.
Religious services.
The Session shall visit and become acquainted with the different members of the church and their families ; inquire as to their spiritual condition ; encourage them in Christian activity, usefulness and growth in grace; and devise ways and means to call out and cultivate the Christian energies of the membership. They shall determine and appoint the number and kind of religious services and meetings of the church; and shall. in the absence of the pastor, take charge of and conduct thesame, or eanse it to be done by some person of their appoint- ment. They shall have the care and control of all the Christian work conducted in the name of the church; and when it shall seem advisable, may invite the bea- cons and Trustees to consult in reference to the interests of the church and congregation.
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Christian work.
QUORUM.
Five members of Session shall be necessary to con-ti- tute a Quorun for the transaction of business, except in cases of emergency for the reception of members, in which case a smaller munker shall be competent to act.
MODERATOR.
The Pastor, when present, shall be the Moderator; but in his absence, the Senior Elder may preside, and the Session when thus constituted in the absence of the
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Pastor, shall be competent to transact any and all business, for which the Form of Government does not require the presence of the Pastor, or of some other minister.
CLERK.
The Session shall appoint one of its own members, Term of Clerk, who shall serve during the pleasure of the Session, 'service. or until he shall resign his position.
It shall be the duty of the Clerk to keep a careful and Duties. complete record of the proceedings of the Session, an alphabetical list of the church membership a record of Records. all marriages and deaths in the families of the church. and of all baptisms and admissions to the church, and such other matters as the Form of Government requires. Notices. He shall, when practicable, notify, either personally or otherwise, each member of the Session not absent from the city, of the time and place of every meeting that may be called, and make full report of the proceedings of Session, whenever required to do so by the Form of Government.
MEETINGS OF THE CONGREGATION.
The business Meetings of the church and congrega- Time. tion, shall be held on the first Thursday in January in each year. between the hours of 7 and 10 o clock, P. M.
Special Meetings of the church and congregation may special be called at any time upon the written request of five meetings. members.
Each meeting shall appoint its own Chairman, and Chairman. shall proceed to the transaction of auch business as these tales of the necessities of the congregation may require.
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Reading of At the request of any two members of the church, the rules.
Clerk shall read to the Meeting these rules.
Notices.
Notices of all Meetings of the church and congrega- tion, whether annual or special, shall be prepared by the clerk., which notices shall specify the kind of mevl- ing, time and place of holding the same, and the business proposed to be transacted, and shall be read to the public congregation at least two weeks before the time appointed for holding the meeting.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Time and mode of choosing officers.
The Officers herein provided for shall be elected by ballot, at the Annual Meeting in January, by a majority of those present of the adult members of the church, and such members of the congregation as may be pew-hold- ers; provided, that the Elders and Deacons shall be elected only by the votes of the adult members of the church.
Vacancies.
Vacancies in office may occur either by the death, resignation, withdrawal from the church, or removal from the parish of the incumbent, and any vacancy may be filled by ballot at any ammal meeting, or special meeting called for the purpose; and the person or persons so elected, shall serve only to fill the vacancy of the unexpired term.
A collection shall be taken up on each communion day, and at such other times as may be desirable to pro- vide for the relief of the poor of the church.
Sacra- mental collection. Systematic benefi- cence.
Collections for the benevolent objects of the church shall be taken up at such time and in such manner as the Session shall prescribe; and all moneys so collected shall be paid to the Board of Deacons, for proper di-tri- bution.
A the of 1 mel hot not 1 pos the pe by pr
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All subscriptions or solicitations of money to promote Subscrip- the work of benevolence of the church, or the interests tions. of the congregation shall, before being presented to the members of the congregation, be submitted to, and approved by, either the Session or Board of Trustees, or both; and all solicitations in the name of the church, not so approved, should be discountenanced.
Congrega-
All other moneys collected or received for the pur- tional funds. poses of the church or congregation, and not specified in the two next preceding paragraphs, shall be paid to, and received by, the Board of Trustees, to be by them cx- pended for the purposes intended.
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